Billet loader



P. DI LELLA BILLET LOADER May 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1961 INVENTOR PAUL m LELLA 8Y4 MM HIS ATTORNEY.

May 26, 1964 P. D] LELLA 3,134,475

- BILLET LOADER Filed Nov. 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 INVENTOR PAUL D! LELLA,

BY awn- 1 HIS ATTORNEY.

May 26, 1964 P. D] LELLA 7 BILLET LOADER Filed Nov. 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FORWARD %/208 ,231 235 21a W REVERSE INVENTOR: PAUL DILELLA,

BYMM

HIS ATTORNEY.

May 26, 1964 P. D] LELLA 3,134,475

BILLET 1.0mm

Filed Nov. 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 48 FIG] I05 "6 us INVENTOR PAUL DI LELLA,

BY lZMJnnpJnv HIS ATTORNEY. V

United States Patent 3,134,475 BILLET LoADEn Paul Di Lelia, Solvay, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assign- This invention has to do with a billet loader for transferring billets successively from a supply and placing them on a billet grinding machine. Billet grinding machines function to automatically grind the four sides of the billet and then unclamp the ground billet from the machine table. A billet grinder of his type is disclosed in Patent No. 2,819,563, issued to W. K. Lowe, January 14, 1958. v

This invention has as an object a billet loader including a storage rack section on which may be deposited a bundle containing several billets, the loader embodying a structural arrangement for successively removing billets from the supply on the storage rack portion and transferring them to the grinding machine.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a billet loader embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is atop plan view.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 4-4, FIGURE 2. FIGURE 5 is a view taken on line 55, FIGURE 2. FIGURE 6 is a view taken on line 6-6, FIGURE 5. FIGURE 7 is a view taken on line 77, FIGURE 1. The frame of the loader includes four I-beams of substantial length and provided at their ends with angle plates 21 by means or" which the beams 26 may be fastened to the floor, or other support. These beams extend in spaced parallel relation normal to the reciprocating table 23 of the billet grinding machine.

Uprights 25, 27, are fixedly secured to the base beams 29, the uprights 25 being mounted at the outer ends of the beams 25) and serve to support the outer free ends of I-beams 28. The opposite ends of the beams 28 are pivotally mounted, as at 29, FIGURE 1 to the uprights 27. A channel member 30 is fixedly secured to the outer ends of the beams 28. A bracket 31 is fixed at the center of the channel member 39, and is provided with a coupling 32 to which is pivotally attached a piston rod 33 of a fluid operated cylinder 34, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted in a bracket 35 fixedly secured to the angle member 21. With this arrangement, the rack beams 28 are inclined and the inclination of the rack may be varied by controlling the admission of fluid to the cylinder by means of the control valve 37 mounted on one of the uprights 25, see FIGURES 1 and 2. A track 38 is fixedly secured to the upper edge of each of the beams 23. The beams 23 and track members 33 form the inclined rack for receiving and supporting a supply of billets.

There are a series of uprights 42, 43, 44, mounted on each of the base bems 20 to support four track members extending in registration with the four tracks 38 of the supply rack. These inner track sections have an inclined portion 47 and an upper horizontal portion 48, the sections 47, 48, forming supporting rails of a conveyor which includes four endless chains 50.

There is a gusset 51 fixedly secured between each base beam 26 and upright 44. A bearing 53.is adjustably mounted on each gusset plate 5 the adjustment being effected by screws 54, see FIGURE 1. A shaft 55 is journalled in the bearings 53 and extends transversely of the machine. There are four sprockets 56, 57, 58, 59, fixedly mounted on the shaft 55 and over which the chains 50 are trained.

A shaft 60 is journalled in bearings mounted in the upper end portions of a pair of the uprights 43 mounted on one of the outer base beams 20, and the beam 20 adjacent thereto. A pair of sprockets 61, 62, are mounted on the shaft 6% in alignment with the corresponding pair of sprockets 56, 57, mounted on the shaft 55, and the pair of chains 58 trained over the sprockets 56, 57, are trained over the sprockets 61, 62, this portion of the upper runs of the chain being complemental to the inclined track sections 47. The upper runs of the chains 5%} continue in a horizontal path and are trained over sprockets 68, 69, mounted on a shaft 79 journalled in bearings '71 secured to the upper end portions of a pair of the uprights 52.

A shaft 73 is journalled in bearings in the upper end portions of the other pair of uprights 43 mounted on the base rails 2%) on the opposite side of the machine. The shaft 73 being positioned in axial registration with the shaft 6% and being provided with sprockets 74, 75. A shaft 77 is journalled in the upper ends of the remaining uprights 42 in alignment with shaft 79, and the chains 54 trained over the sprockets 53, 59, are trained over the sprockets 74, and sprockets 80, 81, on shaft 77. The lower runs of the chains extend to the sprockets 58, 59. This arrangement provides for four of the billet conveyor chains 5%, and with a space in the center of the machine between the confronting ends of the shafts 69, 73; 70, 77, to provide for the operation of a transfer carriage hereinafter referred to.

The chains 5% are provided with billet engaging lugs 83 at spaced intervals. Power is applied to the shafts 70, 77 to efiect rotation thereof for the operation of the conveyor. The shaft 70 is provided with a sprocket 85, and the shaft 77 is provided with a sprocket 86. Chains 87 are trained over these sprockets and over corresponding sprockets mounted on a shaft 90 extending transversely of the machine a short distance above the base beams 20, see'FIGURE 7. The shaft 99 is connected to a speed reducing unit 91 which, in turn, is operatively connected to a motor 92;. When the motor 92 is energized, the upper runs of the conveyor chains 50 are moved to advance billets up the inclined track sections 47 and along the top sections 48 to the ends thereof, which latter point is referred to as a billet pick-up station.

There is an angle plate 1% fixed to the uprights 44 and extending transversely of the machine below the inclined track sections 47, see FIGURES 1 and 7. A similar angle plate 191 is is fixed to the outer edges of the uprights 42 in co-planar relation to the plate 109. I- beams 102 are fixedly mounted on the angle plates 1%, 1G1, and extend in parallel spaced relationship, parallel to the track sections 47, 48, in the space between the confronting ends of the shafts 60, 73, and 7t), 77. There is a track section 193 secured to the upper sides of the beams 162. A transfer carriage is mounted between the rails 103 for reciprocation thereon.

The carriage consists of side plates 105 and a bottom plate 106. A pair of spacing studs 107 extend between the plates 105, the end portions of the studs extend through the side plates and are provided with rollers 108 for operation on the rails 103. Bars 109, omitted in FIGURE 2, are supported by vertical members fixed to the rails 103, the bars 109 extend lengthwise above the rails and serve to maintain the rollers 108 in engagement with the rails 1G3.

A pair of billet transfer arms 112 are fixedly secured at like ends to a shaft 113 journalled in the side plates 105. When the carriage is in the rear position, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the free ends of the arms are positioned below the inner ends of the rails 48 and, upon upward movement of the free ends of the arms, they engage a billet 115 at the billet pick-up station and elevate the billet from the rails 48. An arm 116 is secured at one end to the shaft 113 and at its opposite end is pivotally connected to a piston rod 117 operating in a fluid actuated cylinder 118 mounted on the bottom plate 106 of the carriage. Admission of fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 118 effects downward movement of the arm 116 and upward movement of the arms 112.

When the arms 112 are actuated to elevate a billet from the rails 48, the carriage is moved forwardly on the rails 103 to position the billet 115, carried by the arms 112, in registration with the clamping mechanism on the grinding machine table 23. Reciprocation of the carriage is efiiected by a motor 120, see FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7. The motor 120 is mounted on a bracket 121 secured to one of the uprights 43. The motor 120 is connected through a gear reduction 123 to a shaft 124 journalled transversely of the machine in bearings mounted on the uprights 43. The shaft 124 extends transversely under the beams 102 and is provided with a pinion gear 127 arranged in mesh with a rack 128 secured to the bottom plate 106 of the carriage. Accordingly, when the motor is energized for rotation in one direction, the car riage is moved forwardly to transfer the elevated billet 115 from the pick-up station to the work table 23 of the grinding machine whereupon, the fluid is exhausted from the upper portion of the cylinder 118 to permit the arms 112 to move downwardly for deposit of the billet in the turning and clamping mechanism, not shown, on the grinding machine table and thereafter, the motor is reversed to return the carriage to its rear position.

A yieldable bumper 130 is mounted on the angle plate 100 for engagement by the rack 128 when the carriage has arrived at its rearmost position, as shown in FIG- URE 4. A similar bumper 133 is mounted on the angle plate 101 for engagement by the rack when the carriage has moved forwardly for deposit of a billet on the machine table.

' A billet feed mechanism is provided to successively feed the billets B from the inclined rack 38 to the inclined track because of the offset phase relation between the eccentrics 137, 147. This results in moving billets from the supply on the rails 38 and causing them to successively drop onto the inclined track sections 47 for movement by lugs 83 on the conveyor chains 50.

When a billet has been completely ground by the billet grinding machine, the billet transfer arms 112 are elevated to remove a billet from the rails 48, the motor 120 is energized to advance the transfer carriage forwardly to transfer the billet to the table 23 of the grinding machine. The transfer arms 112 are then lowered to release the billet and the carriage returned to normal position, whereupon the motor 92 is energized to effect movement of the conveyor chains 50 to advance a new billet to the inner ends of the rails 48.

The circuity employed for thus cycling the machine is shown schematically in FIGURE 3. Assume a billet is positioned at the billet pick-up station, as billet 115, FIGURE 1, in which position the billet closes the switch 160, completing a circuit from the hot side 161 of the supply, through wire 162, switch 160, wire 163, relay coil 164, wire 165, to the common side 167 of the supply. With relay 164 thus energized, its contacts 168, 169, are closed. Closed contact 168 provides a hold circuit from Wire 162, contacts 168, wire 170, closed contacts 171 of relay 172, wire 173, to relay coil 164.

When a billet has been completely ground by the billet grinding machine and unclamped from the machine table,

' relay 177 is energized, closing its contacts 178 to prosections 47 so the billets can be conveyed by the chains to the pick-up station.

There is fixedly keyed to the shaft a pair of eccentrics 137. An arm 138 is actuated by each eccentric 137. Like ends of the arms 138 are bored to receive an antifriction bushing 140 encircling the eccentric 137, see FIGURE 6. The arms are retained on the eccentrics by disks 141 secured to the eccentrics 137, as by screws 142. The eccentrics 137 are keyed to the shaft 55 by keys 143. The arms 138 are spaced apart on the shaft 55 and extend outwardly therefrom through notches formed in the channel member 30 and rest on rollers 144 journalled on a shaft 145 mounted in supporting blocks 146 secured to the channel member 30. There is a second pair of eccentrics 147 keyed to the shaft 55 for actuating a second pair of arms 148, the structure being the same as that in connection with the eccentrics 137 and the arms 138, except that the eccentrics 147 are keyed to the shaft 55 and offset relative to the ececntrics 137, 180". The arms 148 are positioned intermediate the arms 138, see FIGURE 2.

With this arrangement, upon each half revolution of the shaft 55, the pair of arms 138 or 148 will be moved upwardly against the supply of billets on the rails 38 to elevate the billets therefrom, and then forwardly toward the conveyor chains 50, and thence downwardly, the movement of the arms 138, 148, taking place alternately vide a circuit from wire 161, contacts .178, wire 180, closed contacts 169 of relay 164, Wire 181, closed contacts 183, coil 184 of a solenoid valve, and Wire 185 to the common side 167. Energization of the coil 184 admits fluid to the upper end of cylinder 118.to effect upward movement of the free ends of the billet transfer arms 112 to move the billet upwardly from the rails 48.

The upward movement of the billet opens the switch 160 and closes its associated contacts 187. Opening of the switch 160 does not drop out relay 164, and it is held through the closed contacts 168 and 171. Closing thecontacts 187 establishes a circuit from the side 161 of the power supply, through wire- 188, contacts 187, wire 190, closed contacts 191, wire 192, relay coil 193, wire 194, to the return side 167. Contacts 195 close to provide a circuit through wire 196 to an actuator 197 to establish power to the carriage actuating motor 120, through wires 198.

The carriage is then moved forwardly by the motor to move the billet now carried by the transfer arms 112 to the billet clamps on the grinding machine table. In the movement of the billet into this position, the forward ends of the transfer arms push the ground billet oif from the machine table. When the un-ground billet has been thus positioned in the billet clamps of the grinding machine, the carriage engages a limit switch 200, closing the same to provide a circuit from the side 161, through wire 201, switch 200, wire 202, relay coil 172, wire 165, to the return side 167. With the relay coil 172 thus energized, contacts 171, 183 open, breaking respectively the hold circuit for the relay 164, and the circuit to the solenoid valve 184, permitting the fluid to escape from the upper end of the cylinder 118 to permit the free end of the transfer arms 112 to move downwardly below the transferred billet.

De-energization of relay 164 closes contact 205 to provide a circuit from side 161, through wire 206, contacts 205, wire 207, relay coil 208, wires 209, 210, to the return side 167. This effects closing of contacts 213 to .provide a power circuit through wire 214, to motor 92, wire 210, to the return side 167. Motor 92 efiects forward movement of the conveyor chains to advance another billet to the inner ends of the rails 48 for pick up by the transfer arms. When this billet reaches such position, the switch is again closed, energizing relay 164 to open the contacts 205 to interrupt the power supply to the motor 92, through the relay 208 and its contacts 213.

Energization of the relay 172 effects closing of its contacts 220. The closing of these contacts, however, is time delayed and establishes a circuit from the side 161, through wires 206, 221, contacts 220, wire 223, contacts 224, wire 225, contacts 226, wire 277, contacts 288, wire 230, to relay coil 231, the opposite side of which is connected by wire 232 to the return side 167. This effects closing contacts 233 to provide power supply to a reverse contactor 234 to effect reversal of the motor 120 through line 235 to return the carriage to its initial position, and when the carriage arrives at this position, limit switch 237 is closed and its associated contacts 224 are open, breaking the circuit to the reverse contactor relay 234 and thus stopping the rearward movement of the carriage.

What I claim is:

l. A billet loader for transferring billets from a supply to a billet grinding machine comprising a frame, a conveyor for advancing billets successively from said supply to a billet pick-up station spaced from the grinding machine, a carriage, a pair of billet transfer arms mounted on said carriage for vertical movement to elevate a billet from said conveyor at said station, means operable, upon elevation of a billet by said arms, to move said carriage in juxtaposition to the machine, effect downward movement of said arms for deposit of said billet on the machine, and thence return said carriage to said station.

2. A billet loader for transferring billets from a supply to a billet grinding machine comprising a frame, an inclined rack adapted to support a supply of billets, a billet conveyor extending from the lower end of said rack to a billet pick-up station spaced from the grinding machine and operable to convey billets successively to said pick-up station, a billet feeder for feeding billets singularly from said rack to said conveyor, a carriage, a pair of billet transfer arms mounted on said carriage, said arms being operable for engagement with a billet at said pick-up station and for release of said billet at the grinding machine, said carriage being mounted in the frame for reciprocation for movement of said transfer arms from said pick-up station to the grinding machine and return for the transfer of a billet by said arms from said station to the grinding machine, and means for operating said feeder, conveyor, carriage, and said arms, in timed relation.

3. A billet loader for transferring billets from a supply to a billet grinding machine comprising an inclined billet storage rack for supporting a supply of billets, a billet conveyor extending from the lower end of said rack to a billet pick-up station, a billet feed means operable to feed billets successively from said rack to said conveyor, and said conveyor being operable to convey billets in spaced singularity successively to said pick-up station, a carriage mounted in said frame, a pair of billet transfer arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said carriage, power-operated means connected to like ends of said arms, the opposite ends of said arms being movable upon operation of said power means into engagement with a billet at said pick-up station, said carriage being mounted in the frame for reciprocation toward and from the grinding machine for the transfer of a billet by said arms from said pick-up station to the grinding machine, and means for operating said billet feeder, conveyor, transfer arms and carriage, in timed relation.

4. A billet loader for transferring billets from a supply to a billet grinding machine comprising a billet storage rack for supporting a supply of billets, a billet conveyor extending from the end of said rack to a billet pick-up station spaced from the grinding machine, said conveyor being operable to convey billets in spaced singularity successively to said pick-up station, a billet feeder operable to feed billets from said rack to said conveyor, a billet transfer mechanism operable to transfer a billet from said pick-up station to the grinding machine, and means for operating said billet feeder, conveyor and transfer mechanism, in timed relation.

5. A billet loader for transferring billets from a supply to a billet grinding machine comprising a frame, a rack adapted to support a supply of billets, a billet conveyor extending from said rack to a billet pick-up station spaced from the grinding machine and operable to convey billets in spaced singularity successively to said pick-up station, a billet feeder operable in conjunction with said conveyor for feeding billets singularly from said rack to the conveyor, a billet transfer mechanism operable to transfer a billet from said pick-up station to the grinding machine, and means for operating said transfer mechanism and conveyor in timed sequential relation.

Crowell et al July 7, 1936 True Oct. 23, 1962 

1. A BILLET LOADER FOR TRANSFERRING BILLETS FROM A SUPPLY TO A BILLET GRINDING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A CONVEYOR FOR ADVANCING BILLETS SUCCESSIVELY FROM SAID SUPPLY TO A BILLET PICK-UP STATION SPACED FROM THE GRINDING MACHINE, A CARRIAGE, A PAIR OF BILLET TRANSFER ARMS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT TO ELEVATE A BILLET FROM SAID CONVEYOR AT SAID STATION, MEANS OPERABLE, UPON ELEVATION OF A BILLET BY SAID ARMS, TO MOVE SAID CARRIAGE IN JUXTAPOSITION TO THE MACHINE, EFFECT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS FOR DEPOSIT OF SAID BILLET ON THE MACHINE, AND THENCE RETURN SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID STATION. 